Dispensing valve for dispensing measured quantities



F. TRIBBITT Nov. 10, 1953 DISPENSING VALVE FOR DISPENSING MEASUREDQUANTITIES Filed Ma1`0h 19, 1952 2` Sheets-511881. l

FIG.

INVENTOR 'FRANK TFyBITT BY (Q y( ATTY Nov. 10, 1953 F. TRIBBITTDISPENSING VALVE FOR DISPENSING MEASURED QUANTITIES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed March 19, 1952 INVENTOR FRANK TRI BBITT iw/MMM@ ATTY Patented Nov.10, 1953 UNITED PATENT OFFICE 2,658,648' Dislil'lllsNYALVE FiTlSQPJ'Nsind MEASURED QUANTITIES Frenk Trilibitt, mileage, 1li.Apiiiiea'tieii March i9, 1952', serial No. vl riolen-ils.V (Cl. 222:477)

This' invention relates to a dispensing valve for dispensing lllea'silldquantities. Mre particu? larly this invention relates to an iniirved'lidl'lid' dispensing valve of a type readilyi adaptable for use Withdi'sfiell'sirl`'g'- iltlierssch as C'lal" dispensers'. t A

Cetal dspses Sili as Cla'' dispensers it is desired to dispense certainmeasured duainiel tiesy the quarltityl 'ridingI tiie'equivalnt aioiltwhich is usually desired in a sihe'leeuii of eoiieje.4 In the well tvpeo f ereaih dispenser which is pevalet ill r'aily fd establishments theperson dispensing the ereaih diereivf holds the `Clip f CO'ee uldelfiththe dispensing valve and bushes uowardlvi ofi a leverk mechanismWhelelofll a iiedtirlii caltityV of lam is dispensed into the 'eue'.various tyres of erearfi dispensing valves have-heen utilised for'ereain dispensers hutihahv of these haveheejh unsatiseV factor-y sincetheydid riot-'meet with they sahitae tion reduireinelitsA to lwliiehdevises-ll of' this type are subjected bv local health boards and otherorganizations of similarl lia-tura Vlriordeirj to beaceptable from theSt'aldpbiht of sanitary codes va dispensing valve of this'type hiust beSuch that it (ian quickly be dissebld f Cleaning purposes' arid thefthllisiy del'- sir'ab'le eo'istilietih is avalve tvhieh Contains 'fewDarts arid Cali readilyv b'l'lovd flrthe dis"-U pelser for liDD'sS-,Sbi'l typ ad float tyie of cli'srfiersifigVV valves iiave'beeliiltiiized` but in most instaiies these vaIvs functioned unesatisfactorily and were 'undsirabl'fri la' sailitation standpolriti` atValve-in particular Would not permit all ofthe ceafl Within: thedispensing containerA to Vloe dispensedsiiiee the float Operating 'iV aoatig Ii'll'l'riellleA Clild not effectively discharge the llast layerof'leair'i which was present at th bottoni of the container. Thedisadvantage of this froi a sanitary stand'-l poillt is' quite obvioussihe iii many lisian'ees the restaurantV (ifie'lfait0`l may disregardthe `layer of liquid whichrl'eirlails',V atthebottom of the containerand simply inou* a freshl quantity" of cream into th'disrhslg Unit. The'lliisarli'- tary aspects of iilSs'ae lthllsVv Sl 24j-f parent. It iS a.bjetf thisvfltil therefore to provide an' improved dispensing valve foi*dspe'ls' the Valve hvihg a 'rl'plie fled constrlletiol'l and beingsanitary' al'id ef'icierit in operation.

And still athi bjet Of this vifl'vei'li'iois to provide an improvedvalve ved'ri'st'ruotionfor dispensing containers the valve havingprovisions Whelen the bsig 'ctin can b 60m p'letely emptied of' liduidand the' valve is cohstructed to peri'hit measured quantities of lid'uidto he dispensed from the container. A stili flirther object is toprovide a' dispensing valve for liduid dispensers thevalve comprising asleeve which is connected to the bottom of the dispensing eoiitalner,the sleeve supporting for reciproeatioh a valve ineinber which isprovided with a longitudinally extending here olieniiie olitvvaidl'r atthe" lo'wel e'l'id of the valve inelb'r', the valve lnerhher also, heineslidinglv' engageahle with a 'plunger and the relationship of theplunger and the valve niefnhe'r' being such that liquid is dispensedthrough the valve rlieinher and through the plunger in measuredquantities, the valve rnemherlheine movable downwardly 'liv eravitvatpredetermined rate of descent as'dee terininedby the displacement of a'quantity 'of liquid which is positioned' within an annular recessbelow` the' valve member, the liq'l'lid being displaoeable from therecess 'by the gradual descent of the valveleiibel" by gravity.

Thesel and further objects will heeoihe indre readily apparent iroln areading' oi the speeiiicae tion when taken in connection with theaecompanvihs` sheets of drawings;

in the drawings: K

A Figure l is a tross seotional view through a dispensihe oo htainershowing' a dispensing valve enibodyingtlie features of the' invention,

Fig-ure 2 is an enlarged seotionai viewthrou'gh a dispensing Valve,

Figure 3 is across sectional view through a valve actuating leveriiiechanism the view heine taseri alongl the linev as -sof Figure l,

w Fieure 4 detailview nirl cross seetion of a sleeve, a valve nieiriherand a plunger, forming :nager eoirlpohents of an improved valvemethanism,

`Figure 5` is any elevational view of a plunger showing` a detail in theconstruction of a valve theeliariisln Figures isa cross seetional viewthrough eer-v tainassenibled-parts cfa valve mechanism, thevieilli'heirigy takenV along theliiies li-G of Figure 4,

Figure 'l is an elevational detail view of a valve nieihher, and

Figure s' is a betteln view of the valve inentloerv shown in VFig'll'le7.

Referring to tile drawings a dispensing coll-y tainer is generaliydesignated bv the reference character lui dlspens'ihg'eontalner lo' asshown in this rieure isa ereain dispenser of the tvpe which mayordinarilvjee found in food dise peiislhg establishments. "The dispenserlliL ooli= sists of a double wall construction I| providing therebetweenan insulating chamber I2. A conventional cover I3 is disposed on top ofthe dispenser I Il. The dispensing container I is suitably supported ona support I4 the container IIJ being rigidly held on the support bymeans of fastening members as indicated at I5.

Referring now to Figures l, 2, 4 and 6, a sleeve is indicated at I6. Thesleeve I6 is suitably anchored on the double wall construction II, thesaid sleeve I6 having a threaded extension I1 in which a nut I8 isthreaded. The nut I8 is tightly screwed against the outermost wall II tofirmly anchor the sleeve I6 with respect to the dispensing containerIll. The sleeve I6 Ais provided with a first or lower bore I9 which isin communication with an upper or second bore 20. A valve member 2| isreciprocally positioned within the sleeve I6 the valve member 2| alsobeing particularly well shown in Figures '1 and 8. The valve member 2|is provided with an outer peripheral surface 22 and includes alongitudinally extending bore 23 which terminates within the valvemember and which opens outwardly at the lower end of said valve member 2I.

The bore 23 in effect provides a chamber 24. 'Ihe valve member 2| isalso provided at its upper end above the bore 23 with a weighted portionor section 25. A plurality of inlet openings 26 eX- tend transversely inthe valve member 2|, the inlet openings 26 also being longitudinallyspaced as best indicated in Figures 2 and '1.

A plunger 21 is positioned for reciprocation with respect to the valvemember 2|. The plunger 21 comprises an open end bore 28 having an outerupper peripheral surface 29 in sliding engagement with the bore 23 ofthe valve member 2|. The plunger 21 is also provided with an annularprojection 30 which effectively functions to seal the lower bore I9 fromthe upper bore 20 as will be further indicated in the operation.

The upper end of the plunger 21 is provided with an annular sealingsurface 3| which is adapted to engage in sealing relation a conicalvalve seat 32 formed at the upper end of the bore 23 in the valve member2 I.

A valve actuating lever is indicated at 33, The lever 33 is suitablypivoted as indicated at 34, and as particularly well shown in Figure 3,to the support I4. The lever 33 is of a bail or U-shaped type. A pivotblock 35 is supported on the bail shaped lever 33. The lower end of theplunger 21 is provided with an annular recess 36. A bore 31 is providedin the pivot block 35. The lower end of the plunger 21 is fitted intothe bore 31 and a pin 38 extends laterally through the pivot block 35,the pin pivotally engaging the recess 36 of the plunger 33, the said pin38 being supported on the lever 33. Thus the pivot block 35 is pivotallysupported with respect to the lever 33 and upon upward and downwardmovement of the lever 33 the plunger 21 may freely slide in the bore I9of the threaded extension I1 of the sleeve I6. It must be realized ofcourse that a, preferred construction has been shown with respect to thepivotal connection of the lever 33 with respect to the pivot block 35.Other means for connecting the plunger 21 in pivotal relation withrespect to the lever 33 may be had without in any way changing theeffective aspects of the invention. The lever 33 includes converginglegs 39 which are suitably connected to a weight 40. The weight 40 alsoacts as an engaging surface or handle which the operator may grasp foractuating the lever 33 upwardly. Nuts 4| and 42 are also threaded on thethreaded extension I1. By unscrewing the nut 4| in a directiondownwardly it can be seen that the effective stroke distance of theplunger can be varied since the pivot block 35 is limited in its upwardmovement by means of the nut 4|. The nut 42 can be considered a jamnutfor the purpose of securely locking the nut 4| in position.

The stages of operation are best shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4. When it isdesired to dispense a quantity of cream from the dispensing container I0the operator merely grasps or pushes the weighted end of the lever 33and moves it upwardly whereupon the plunger 21 is effective to move thevalve member 2| upwardly to or beyond the position shown in Figure 2. Inthe position shown in Figure 2 the valve member 2I has been pushedupwardly so that certain of the inlet openings 26 are in directcommunication with the interior of the dispensing container I0 wherebycream will enter into the inlet openings 26 and into the chamber 24.Immediately after the valve member 2| has been pushed upwardly andreleased a plurality of functions take place. Since the lever 33 isweighted by means of the weight 40 the plunger 21 immediately descendsto its downward position whereupon the annular projection 30, asindicated in the position shown in Figure 2 effectively seals the boreI9 from the annular space formed beneath the valve member 2|. Theplunger 21 thus is now in its original position. Simultaneously with theupward move ment of the valve member 2|, cream is drawn into the annularspace below the valve member 2|. This annular space is provided by theinner surface of the bore 20 and by the outer peripheral surface 29formed at the upper end of the plunger 21, The outer peripheral surface22 of the valve member 2| is of sufficiently less diameter with respectto the bore 20 of the sleeve I6 so that upon the upper displacement ormovement of the valve member 2| cream will enter immediately into theannular space which is disposed below the valve member 2|. Thedifferences in diameter between the outer surface 22 and the bore 20 arenot very great but the differences are sufficient so that upon theupward movement of the plunger 2| a certain suction is created beneaththe plunger to effectively draw the cream from the dispenser into theannular space beneath said valve member.

The valve member 2| now being in its upper position as indicated inFigure 2, liquid which flows into the chamber 24 is immediatelydischarged through the open end bore 28 to a desired container not shownwhich may be held beneath the plunger 21.

Since the valve member 2| is sufliciently weighted it will immediatelytend and descend, due to gravity, against the hydraulic force of theliquid within the annular space. As the valve member 2| descends thevliquid within the annular space is displaced back into the dispensingcontainer I0 and as the openings 26 are moved downwardly beyond theupper end of the sleeve I6 lesser amounts of liquid of course can enterinto the chamber 24 until the openings 26 are completely below the upperend of the sleeve I6 whereuponV the vliquid flow from the containercompletely ceases. The valve membr 2| then is returned to its originalposition and the desired measured quantity of cream has been discharged.AS best shown in Figure 4 the sealing surface 3| is inl sealing relationwith respect to the conical valv'e seat 32 and this additionallyactas/ieservesto keep the cream from leaking into the bore 28. Sincethe. upper end of the bore 28 is also thusy tightly sealed it. willeffectivelykeep the lower en dl of the plunger 21 from dischargingdroplets of cream which might be retained Within the bore 28. Y

As indicated. previously the` upward stroke of the plunger 21 can beincreased or decreased by adjusting the nut 4I. with respect to thepivot block 35. Thus if the plunger 2,1 is so adjusted that it will movethe valve member 2l upwardly to expose all of the openings a greaterliquidi-low is possible. On the other hand the adjustment may be suchthat only the uppermost of the. inlet openings may be displaced duringthe stroke of the plunger to the position. where they are incommunication with the interior, of the dispensing container IU, andthus a lesser amount of liquid is dispensedi It can thus be seen that animproved valve mechanism for dispensing containers. has been shown anddescribed. The dispensing valve is effective in operation and consistsofa minimum number of parts which can readily be disassembled forcleaning. By merely removingthe valve member 2| and the plunger 21 theunit can be quickly cleaned. The objects of the invention have thus beenfully achieved and it must be understood that changes and modificationsmay be made which do not depart from the spirit of the invention asdisclosed nor the scope thereof as dened in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A valve for a dispensing container comprising a sleeve adapted to bestationarily connected to thecontainensaid sleeve having an innerlperipheral surface, a valve member positioned for reciprocation withinsaid sleeve. said valve member having an outer peripheral surface inrelative sliding engagement with the surface of said sleeve, alongitudinally extending bore formed in said valve member, saidy borebeing closed at one end to form an inlet chamber, a valve seat formed insaid. valve member adjacent the closed end of said bore, said valvemember having a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverselyextending openings adapted to provide for the.

inlet of liquid to. said inlet chamber, a weight on said valve memberforcontinuously urging said valvemember in a downward direction within saidsleeve, a plungerv movably positioned within said bore, said plungerhaving a long1- tudinally extending bore adapted to receive liquid fromthe chamber at one end and to clischarge the liquid at its other end, asealing surface at one .end of said plunger engageable with the valveseat for sealing said inlet openings with respect to said bore in saidplunger, means for moving said plunger and said valve member upwardlyinto a position wherein said inlet openings are above said sleeve toprovide commum- .cation between the dispensing container and said inletopenings, said plunger being movable by gravity relative to said valvemember to move said sealing surface from sealing contact with said valveseat whereupon the inlet openings are in communication with said bore insaid plunger the outer surface of said valve member being sufficientlylaterally spaced from the inner surface of said sleeve to provide forthe inflow of liquid into an annular space formed by the innerperipheral surface of the sleeve and the outer peripheral surface of theplunger below the valve member, said valve member being movable undergravity downwardly to displace the liquid within 6 the annular space,-and to assume its original position whereby said inlet openings areclosedby the plunger.

2. A valve for a dispensing container comprising a sleeve adapted to bestationarily connected to the container, said sleeve having an innerperipheral surface, a valve member positioned for reciprocation withinsaid sleeve, said valve member having an outer peripheral surface inrelative sliding engagement with theV surface of said sleeve, alongitudinally extending bore formed in said valve member, said borebeing closed at one end to form an inlet. chamber, a valve seat formedin said valve member adjacent the closed end of said bore, said valvemember having a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverselyextending openings adapted to providefor the inlet of liquid to` saidinlet chamber, a plunger movably positioned within said bore, saidplunger having a longitudinally Vextending bore adapted to receiveliquid from the chamber at onev end and to discharge the liquid at itsother end, a sealing surface at one end of said plunger engageable withthe valve seat for sealing said inlet openings with respect to said borein said plunger, means for moving said plunger and said valve memberupwardly into a position wherein said inlet openings are above saidsleeve to provide communication between thedispensing container and saidinlet openings, said plunger being` movable by gravity relative to saidValve. member to move said sealing surface from sealing contact withsaid valve seat whereupon the inlet openings are in communication withsaid bore in said plunger, portions of the outer surface of said valvemember. beingsufliciently spaced laterally from the inner surface ofsaid sleeveY to provide for the iniiow of liquid into an annular spaceformed by they inner peripheral surface of the. sleeve and theouterperipheral surface of the plunger below the valve member,` saidvalve member being movable under gravity downwardly to displacetheliquid within the annular space, and to assume its original positionwhereby said inlet openings are closedby the plunger.

3. A valve for a dispensing container comprising a sleeve adaptedyto bestationarily connected to the container, said sleeve having an inner perripheral surface, avalve member positioned for reciprocation within saidsleeve, said valve member having an. outer peripheral surfacevinrelative sliding engagement with the surface of said sleeve, alongitudinally extending bore formed in said valve membensaidbore beingclosed at one end to form an inlet chamber, a valveseatformed in saidvalve member adjacent the closed end of said bore, said valve memberhaving a plurality openings adapted to provide for the inlet of liquidto said inlet chamber, a plunger movably positioned within saidbore,said plunger having a longitudinally extending. bore adaptedtoreceive liquid .from the chamber atv one. end and to dischargetheliquid at its. other end,y a sealing surfaceat. one end ofsaid'plunger en-i gageable with the valve seat for sealing said inletopenings withrespect to. said bore in .said plunger, means formovingsaid plunger andrsaid valve member upwardly into a position wherein saidinlet openings are' above said sleeve to. provide communication betweenthedispensing container and said inlet openings, said plunger beingmovable by gravity. relative tov said valvev member to move said sealingsurface from sealing contact with said valve seat whereupon the inletopenings are in communication with said.`

bore in said plunger the outer surface of said valve member beingsuiiiciently laterally spaced from the inner surface of said sleeve toprovide for the inflow of liquid into an annular space formed by theinner peripheral surface of the sleeve and the outer peripheral surfaceof the plunger below the valve member, said valve member being movableunder gravity downwardly to displace the liquid within the annularspace, and to assume its original position whereby said inlet openingsare closed by the plunger.

4. A valve for a dispensing container comprising a sleeve adapted to bestationarily connected to the container, said sleeve having an innerperipheral surface, a valve member positioned for reciprocation withinsaid sleeve, said valve member having an outer peripheral surface inrelative sliding engagement with the inner surface of said sleeve, alongitudinally extending bore formed in said valve member, said boreterminating in a closed end within said valve member, said valve memberhaving a plurality of inlet openings in communication With said bore, aplunger movably positioned in said bore, said plunger having alongitudinally extending bore adapted to receive liquid from theopenings and discharge the liquid therefrom, said plunger being movablein the bore of said sleeve to cover and seal said openings in oneposition and to open said openings in a second position, means formoving said plunger and said valve member upwardly into a positionwherein said inlet openings are above said sleeve to communicate withthe interior of a container, said plunger being movably downwardy toexpose said openings wherein liquid flows into the bore of said sleeveand through the bore of the plunger, the outer surface of said valvemember being laterally spaced from the inner surface of the sleeve toprovide for inflow of liquid, on the upward stroke of the sleeve, intoan annular space formed by the inner peripheral surface of the sleeveand the outer peripheral surface of the plunger below said valve member,said valve member being movable downwardly to displace the liquid withinthe annular space and to assume its original position with the inletopenings blocked by said plunger.

5. A valve for a dispensing container in accordance with claim 4, saidmeans for moving said plunger and the valve member upwardly including alever pivotally connected to said plunger.

6. A valve for a dispensing container in a-ccordance with claim 5, saidlever` including a weight adapted to urge the plungerY downwardly intoits original position. `A

7. A valve for a dispensing container in accordance with claim 6,including a second weight on said valve member for urging the same in adownward direction with respect to said sleeve.

8. In a dispensing container, a dispensing valve comprising a sleeveconnected to the bottom of said container, a valve member positioned forreciprocation within said sleeve, said valve member having alongitudinally extending bore opening outwardly at the lower end of saidvalve member, said valve member having at least one laterally extendinginlet opening communicating with the bore and being normally closed fromthe container by the inner surface of the sleeve, a plunger movablypositioned within the bore of 8 the valve member, said plunger having asecond longitudinally extending bore open at its lower end and havingits upper end normally closed by engagement with the valve member, meansfor moving said plunger upwardly whereby said valve member is movedupwardly into a position wherein said opening in said valve member is indirect communication with the interior of said container, said plungerbeing movable downwardly to provide ior communication between the firstand second bores and said inlet opening for the discharge of liquid,said valve member being arranged with respect to said sleeve to drawliquid into an annular space formed below the valve member by saidplunger and said sleeve, said valve member being movable by gravitydownwardly against the liquid in said annular space to displace the sameand to assume its origina1 position upon the displacement of said liquidwhereupon the discharge of liquid ceases.

9. In a dispensing container in accordance with claim 8 includingadjustable means for limiting the upward movement of said valve member.

10. In a dispensing container in accordance with claim 8, said means formoving said plunger including a lever arm pivotally connected to saidplunger, the lever arm being movable by gravity to return the plunger toits downward position.

11. In a dispensing container, a dispensing valve comprising a sleeveconnected to the bottom of said container, a valve member positioned forreciprocation within said sleeve, said valve member having alongitudinally extending bore opening outwardly at the lower end of saidvalve member, said valve member having at least one laterally extendinginlet opening communicating with the bore and being normally closed fromthe container by the inner surface of the sleeve, a plunger movablypositioned within the bore of the valve member, said plunger having asecond longitudinally extending bore open at its lower end, means formoving said plunger' upwardly whereby said valve member is movedupwardly into a position wherein said opening in said valve member is indirect communication with the interior of said container, said plungerbeing movable downwardly to provide for communication between the firstand second bores and said inlet opening for the discharge of liquid,said valve member being arranged with respect to said sleeve to drawliquid into an annular space formed below the valve member by saidplunger and said sleeve, said valve member being movable by gravitydownwardly against the liquid in said annular space to displace the sameand to assume its original position upon the displacement of said liquidwhereupon the discharge of liquid ceases.

FRANK TRIBBITT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 923,611 Werd June 1, 1909 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date1,589 Great Britain Apr. 20, 1878 33,762 Norway Jan. 2, 1922 59,798Germany May l, 1891

